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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Our family loves Disney World. My wife and I decided a long
time ago that a major priority for us would be to focus on spending quality
time doing fun things with our kiddos. Thus, and partly due to the cathartic
effect a trip to Disney World had on me after living, working and serving
through Hurricane Katrina, it is now part of our regular routine (as we can
afford it).

We each have our favorite thing to do while visiting the
happiest place on earth. A perennial favorite of mine, since it opened in April
of 2007, is the Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland. The attraction is a 10-minute “digital
interactive puppetry” show in a 400-seat theater where two Disney Cast Members
work behind the screen to tell jokes and interact with the audience. Early in
the show the actors, through remote camera work, pick out an unwitting rube to
be the butt of an ongoing gag. This innocent participant is known as “that
guy.” Throughout the routine, “that guy” is jokingly belittled and the crowd
gets quite a chuckle at his expense. It is pretty funny right up to the parting
final dig from Roz, the task-mastering monster boss.

Apparently, I have become “that guy.” No, I don’t mean the
Laugh Floor’s “that guy” who is more often than not surprised to be cast into
the limelight (although I will admit that I did have the inglorious, albeit
cute, privilege of being the chosen object of that smile-begetting day-long
joke a couple of years ago. I even have the button). Rather, I am referring to
being identified as “that guy” as it relates to speaking up as a dissenting
voice in public settings. Let me be clear… I do not want to be “that guy.” Although
I am an extrovert whose personality has oft been described as “high strung”
and/or “tightly wrapped,” folks may be surprised to know that I often resent feeling
as if I have a responsibility to trudge off into “that guyness.” I’d much rather
focus on good things, things that edify and unite, things that encourage and sooth.
Thankfully, I spend most of my personal and pastoral life in that vein. However,
over the last few years, I’ve found there is a need to speak up, especially in
the area of our cooperative efforts in denominational issues. I’m well aware
that some would not interpret certain of my actions (most recently a motion I
made at our state convention) to be commensurate with what I am describing as a
desire to quietly shepherd the flock God of which he has entrusted to my care.
However, I know from whence come my actions and I am at peace about raising my
concerns even though I know others are not.

Since 2004 I have been acutely aware of what I’m ashamed to identify
as abuses of authority in areas of leadership in Baptist life. Ok, call me
naive as you clean up your “spit-take” but this realization is not coming from
being unaware of such a state of affairs, it is about disappointment.

Over a number of years I have noted several disappointing
displays of overreaching leadership. Some of these transgressions have been of
a sort that should engender concern from onlookers, yet concern is conspicuously
absent. So I’ve wondered, is this absence of concern due to the comfort others
feel from blindly trusting those who have led us through the difficulties of
the past? Does it come from a place of mindless loyalty to an organization or
individual? Is its genesis from an apathetic attitude toward minutia which is better
left to the purview of the leaders (since that is why we have them)?

Concerned people must stand up and ask difficult questions. It
is the responsibility of those who are invested in an organization to
faithfully contend for the best practice of that organization. When it appears
someone is covering up information, unduly influencing situations for personal
and or professional advancement or trying to manage information so as to not
confuse the huddled masses, someone, anyone must say something. They should educate
themselves about the issue, understand the facts, seek wise counsel, use
appropriate means and above all, carry on with a humble and Christlike spirit. Such
a stand, of course, will not be without considerable ramifications.

You might become known as “that guy.” Further, you’re
intentions are likely to be questioned. Those who rally around the concern you
stand against often unite and will subsequently hurl disparaging remarks in
your direction. Others will be amazed that you are “dumb enough” to speak up
and ruin “options for future ministry.” Some will just shake their heads in a
disapproving nod. You might be labeled a liberal, a Calvinist, a troublemaker,
an elitist, foolish, or an attention seeker. Others, simply because you dared
to challenge someone, will think of you as the enemy of what is right and good.
I ask you to keep your chin up and press on.

The most perplexing thing for me has been the question of
why so many will not take the time to listen to the concerns expressed. Whether
or not they stand with or against you, many simply will not engage. For
whatever reason, they remain satisfied with the status quo and will often not
spend the time to look into the concerns raised.

Time for an admission. Hello, my name is Jay and I am a
proponent of openness and transparency. I know there are times when discretion
is necessary. Of course there are things that are of such a private and
intimate nature that complete confidentiality is required. I accept that idea and
attempt to function accordingly in my personal and pastoral life. However, I
rarely see the need for such secretive back room whispers in cooperative convention
life.

Here are a few examples from my own experience. Not wanting the
attention this type of vocal dissonance might bring, I’ve tried to point out
areas I believe need to be addressed with a Christlike spirit (although I have
been accused of mean-spiritedness). Much to the chagrin of some and irrational anger
of others I have spoken up when I felt it necessary.

1)I spoke on the floor at the 2004 SBC in Indianapolis regarding the sole-membership
issue. Tuesday morning, June 15th with time extended toward the end
of the Executive Committee’s report I expressed concern over what I understood
to be inappropriate and heavy handed tactics of the Executive Committee
regarding the sole-member issue. It’s not that I was against sole membership
(although I certainly had my doubts) it is that our news outlet (which, by the
way, falls under the control of the Executive Committee) had not been balanced
in reporting both sides of the issue. In fact they only ever presented one side
of the issue. The NOBTS website, on the other hand, had presented equal
treatment including papers and input from a number of individuals on both sides
of the debate. (page 54 of the 2004 Book of Reports #48).

2)The following year I spoke up again at SBC meeting in Nashville when the Executive Committee allowed
another year to pass without giving any outlet to the dissenting voices who had
opposed the sole-member issue. To make matters worse, I felt as though our
seminary president was being implicitly maligned and that the opinion of the
Board of Trustees (who the convention elects to govern the institution) was
being squelched. (page 66 of the 2005 Book of Reports #39).

3)I made a motion at the 2010 Convention asking for the GCR documents to
be unsealed. At the time of the convention many had questions regarding the
Great Commission Resurgence report. I simply asked for transparency on the part
of the task force in order to help the body better understand the issues which
were addressed. However, in speaking against my motion two key arguments were
presented. First, it was posited that my motion would require the task force to
“break its word” to those who were invited to offer input in task force
meetings. Second, the suggestion was made that if my motion were to be adopted
“no future convention committee will allow the recording of its deliberations.”
Anyone who is familiar with basic rules of logic can see that neither of these
arguments against my motion necessarily follow. A few points: 1) the task force
was not given the authority to make a promise of anonymity (although I do not
mind the action, to then use it as the reason to suppress the publication of
the proceedings is unfortunate at best), 2) The proceedings and deliberations
of the task force is what I was interested in, not the testimony of the invited
guests. The recording button could have simply been turned off when guests
spoke or the published material could have simply not included their
contribution, 3) although a professor from Southern Seminary spoke against my
motion suggesting it was some sort of political issue, I can assure you this
was not a political issue for me (in fact, I can’t imagine what political
issues might have been in play). Don’t you just love when people who don’t know
you make assumptions about your actions that have nothing to do with reality,
4) to suggest that passing this motion meant that no other committee would
allow their proceedings to be recorded is a basic logical fallacy. In the end
my motion failed and the information remains sealed. I’d venture to say the
sealed information will be of a sort that many will wonder why it was sealed to
begin with. For that matter, were it important or incriminating enough to be
sealed would 15 years be long enough? (page 57 of the 2010 Book of Reports #20).

4)Then, of course, there is the issue of LouisianaCollege.
I could go on and on. Suffice it to say that I have spoken up on numerous
occasions. Some of which I will address at a future date on this site.

5)Most recently, and because of the concern I have had regarding
overreaching influence, I made a motion to point out that the Louisiana Baptist Convention Articles of Incorporation and its Bylaws do
not allow a seated voting place for the state Executive Director on any of the four Boards of Trustees. I will
address this issue in detail on this site soon. But let me be clear, nowhere in
the Articles of Incorporation or in the Convention Bylaws is the Executive
Director given ex officio voting privileges on any of the four Boards of
Trustees of the convention. I challenge anyone to examine the 1) ex officio
representation of the elected President of the Convention (Articles of
Incorporation VIII, Section 4), then compare that to 2) the explicitly delineated role of the Executive
Director regarding ex officio status permitted on the Standing Committees, not
the Boards of Trustees (Bylaws Article III, Section 9) and 3) the evident spirit of
the rules guarding our entities against undue influence (Bylaw Article IV,
Section 10). This is true even with the 2007 wording change from “service” to
“election” (which was passed without discussion). The change of wording has no bearing on the spirit of
the article to guard against those who would otherwise wield undue influence.
Especially when you consider Bylaw Article IV, Sections 1 and 2 which clearly
express continuity of spirit regarding the protection of our Committees and
Boards against allowing an inappropriately long tenure. Read it people! (Again, I will comment more on this issue soon).

F

olks, let me be clear, long ago I gave up the desire to “be
someone” in church or Baptist convention life. I would hope my self-deprecating
transparency would testify to this. It is true, I did allow my name to once be
nominated for Second-Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention years
ago, but here’s the deal, not only did I lose that election… Friends, I forever
have the humbling privilege to be able to say that I was that guy who came in
LAST to Wiley Drake. Needless to say, fear of what others might think of my
particular perspective was set aside many moons ago. I just want people to gather
data, be informed and act as those who have the ability to think independently.

I have pastored for 17 years and I am not a politician nor
am I interested in fruitless debate (although I do love healthy philosophical sparring).
For years I have steered clear of blogging and the corresponding social media attention
it garners, but at this point I believe it is time to speak up. Clearly, if one
hopes to have a voice one must have a media outlet that offers a vehicle for
information dissemination. So, here I am, sitting in the theater, a willing
participant. I’ll be “that guy” …

… Although, I suppose it would be more appropriate to identify
with Roz since, “I’m watching, always watching.” ;)

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

My father has quite a way with prose. In fact, in my opinion, a few of his works ought to be published. My favorite musing of his has to do with his recollection of a night staying in a Greyhound Bus station in Louisville... but I digress. From time to time I will likely post a poem or two of his, if for no other reason than it will fill up space. Seriously though, generally speaking they are really good.

Apparently, while he freshly pondered fatherhood and the future paths his boys might one day take, dad decided to write poems about my younger brother and I. Presented for you here, chronologically, are the poems about me and my little brother Ben.

Jay

Someday maybe Jay will be
An athlete folks will pay to see,
Or maybe to the Congress sent,
Or even become President.
So devilishly handsome he,
A movie star's what Jay might be.
With his strong and powerful voice
A preacher's job may be his choice.
Say, what if Jay, a doctor bold,
Should finally cure the common cold.
Or maybe he will follow me
And try his hand at poetry.
Yes, I'm convinced that Jay can be,
Anything he wants to be,
But mom says he should wait some more,
At least until he's three or four.

Ben

Little Benji's quite a guy
With curly hair and spirits high.
A bouncy-step variety,
The spice of life for mom and me.
So much like his brother Jay,
Yet different in a special way.
His smiling eyes just seem to tell
He'll win your heart and do it well.
Each night he meets me at the door
Same question as the night before.
Right after I park the car,
"Daddy bring me candy bar?"
In quiet times I talk to God
And tell him that I find it odd,
That He's blessed me, spite all my sin,
With number 2 son, little Ben.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

We (the Trustees of Louisiana College) received word yesterday (via email from President Joe Aguillard) of the new Committee Chair appointments made by our incoming Chairman, Rev. Tommy French. The Chairman has full authority to select those who will serve in this capacity (I actually support this practice). The 6 Committee Chairs, along with the 3 Officers of the board make up the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

For those keeping score, all but one of the Committee Chairs have been replaced (another former committee chair, Rev. French, was elected Board Chairman and is making the appointments). None of the 3 Board Officers were reelected by the Board. Thus, only 2 of the 9 members that make up the Executive Committee served on the Executive Committee last year. As a side note, not one "vocally dissenting" member was chosen for service in this capacity. Please pray for transparency and clarity of direction for us as we move forward.

PS: Please don't read this as sour grapes. At this point I am more than satisfied with my role. However, I would like to thank former Chairman Gene Lee for giving me the privilege of serving in that capacity.

This past summer the Southern Baptist Convention convened in
Houston, Texas.
On Tuesday, June 11th I offered the following motion from the floor:

“I move that a list of all convention elected trustees
(including the name, church, state and term) be made available through the
convention website (www.sbc.net) preferably
through a tab added to the homepage for convenience access.”

On Tuesday, July 2nd I was pleasantly surprised
to receive a call from Augie Boto, Executive Vice-President and General Council
to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mr. Boto called
to let me know that the website did indeed have what I had been looking for. He
took the time to walk me through finding the material and explained that it had
been up for a while. After he showed me where to find the information, I must
say, felt quite silly. I had looked all over the website for trustee information
and came up short. Access to the information was not entirely intuitive but it
was there to be viewed.

For those interested, I am happy to announce you can find a
complete list of all entity trustees by going to www.sbc.net.
On the homepage, you will find a green banner labeled “Directory of SBC
Services.” Click on that banner and a pop-up window will be displayed with
information on all SBC services and entities. Under each of the 12 entities for
whom the annual convention elects Boards of Trustees you will find a link titled
“Trustees” (“Members” for the Executive Committee) to a pdf listing the
pertinent information.

A quick check at www.waybackmachine.org allowed me to see
that sometime between Tuesday December 16th and Thursday, December
18th of 2008 lists of elected trustees were added to the Directory
Services pop-up on the homepage. I’d like to thank Mr. Boto for his timely
response to my concern (within a month after the convention). I’m also very
appreciative for the gracious and personal way he handled my request as well as
the way in which he has made himself available to answer my questions. I
believe our churches and the messengers to our convention have a friend in
Augie Boto.

Friday, November 15, 2013

I first wrote and posted this article for the members of our congregation on our website. Dave Miller contacted me to ask permission to post it on his well-read and respected site at www.sbcvoices.com. It was so well received that I subsequently wrote a postscript for his page. Dave was gracious enough to allow a lengthy thread to run its course. As my first blog post I have copied and pasted the original text and postscript in its entirety from the sbcvoices site.

NOTE: Jay Adkins has sent in a postscript to his article, in response to some of the comments. It is attached at the bottom of the post.

Jay Adkins is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Westwego, LA, and a trustee of Louisiana College. He has firsthand insight into the sad events that have taken place there in recent months, and speaks with both courage and conviction. I contacted him and received permission to republish his letter in full. You can read it at his site, here.Here is Jay Adkins’ statement in full:

A personal statement regarding recent events at Louisiana College:

One of the most encouraging and influential moments of my young life was when, after a very difficult season of our junior football league, my dad put his arm around me and told me that he was proud that I never gave up and that he looked up to me for not being a quitter. He has remarked similarly through the years. Considering my ‘love language’ is affirmation, I suppose it’s no wonder that his early encouragement has helped to shape me into the man I am today. Indeed, I do not give up. It’s a running joke in our family. Both my wife and father regularly refer to me as “conquer boy.” However, as I have grown up I’ve also come to understand that I have limitations. There are things that are outside of my control and times I’m unable to fulfill my responsibilities because of those outside influences. In fact, I believe there are times when, for integrity’s sake, one must be prepared to walk away from a situation in order that one’s name not become besmirched by its affiliation with the questionable actions of others.

This is how I felt when I left the Louisiana College Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening. For me, this meeting was the culmination of 7 months of growing frustration. I left Tuesday night embarrassed, saddened and disenchanted by what I had witnessed. By Wednesday evening I had spoken with a number of trustees encouraging them to consider resignation and had prepared a 2+ page statement outlining why I was going to resign my position on the LC board. It was a scathing retort regarding my personal growing concern and subsequent frustration since our September meeting of last year. Then Wednesday night God spoke to me through my 13 year old son.

Both of my boys have witnessed my struggle over the last few months and I’ve probably done a disservice to them by not better shielding them from conversations with my wife regarding my concerns. Michelle, Quint and Canon have been patient with me as I have spent an inordinate amount of time dealing with my responsibilities as a trustee, while also attempting to prepare for dissertation work on my PhD. Once again, I am reminded of how God has blessed me with these three very special people. Wednesday evening, my oldest son Quint (who at 10 could articulate 4 of the main arguments for the existence of God better than most Christian ministers I know) walked in my office and over to where I sat behind my desk where I had been working on my resignation letter. He asked me what I was doing. I told him I was working on my resignation notice. He asked, “are you really gonna resign?” I began to explain to him how I, at some risk, attempted to point out problems. I had tried to keep others from resigning over the last few months. I had attempted to present coherent arguments based on sufficient and, at times, empirical evidence. I had begged for transparency. I had even suggested that we allow certain individuals to defend themselves before the board, but to no avail. I told him that I saw no other course. I even read him portions of my resignation letter. He paused and then asked in a quiet tone, “Dad, do you believe you are doing what is right… if you do why would you ever give up?” That statement hit me hard but it was nothing compared to the following clarion call. I was moved before he even spoke because it seemed he was a bit choked up. He then asked, with the hint of a tear in his eye, “Dad, even if you knew no one in the world would ever, or could ever be saved, that no one would listen to you, and that no one would respond to your message, would you not still preach and tell others about the Gospel?” I sat there, with tears now in my eyes, shocked and pondering how such clarity could come from someone so young. Can you imagine… the early affirmation from my dad about not giving up becoming a challenge to me through the encouragement of my son so many years later. I am a blessed man.
So, for what it’s worth and/or for those who care, I will NOT be resigning from the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College. I remain steadfast in my commitment to present truth, call for transparency and challenge those who abuse power. I will not be dissuaded. I will continue to refuse to sign the confidentiality agreement (just as I have refused to do so the last few times it was handed out), not because I intend to leak information but because I believe it to be inappropriate and because in 15 years of pastoring I am fully able to discern what should be kept confidential and what can and should be trumpeted from the rooftops. Please know that I am speaking only for myself, not the board, and not for any others on the board who might have dissented with the recent actions of the board. Not only do I feel that making this statement is important, I believe it is necessary considering my fiduciary responsibility to Louisiana Baptists.

There are good men and women serving at Louisiana College who deserve a board that can be trusted to protect the integrity of the institution as a whole. There are precious students at LC who deserve the very best formal education that can be offered. To those who have been mistreated please know that I, for one, am sorry and that a few of us have worked hard to make things right. Some of the most kind and faithful men and women I know work on the LC campus and serve as trustees. The encouragement and comradery we have shared has been a great blessing to me. But with that said, I am also embarrassed.

I’m embarrassed over the needless loss of three godly men from our faculty. One of which was voted teacher of the year (whose recognition was conspicuously dropped from a chapel service). I’m embarrassed that of 41 SACS accredited institutions of higher education in the state of Louisiana, our school—the Christian school—is one of only three either on warning status or probation. I’m embarrassed that we have had five Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs during the current president’s tenure. I’m embarrassed that we have dismissed a report from outside investigative counsel who actually interviewed persons involved in certain allegations and yet accepted a report from an internal committee that interviewed no one. I’m embarrassed that we have lost Dr. Chuck Quarles, a godly and humble man whose scholarship is impeccable and whose love for missions and God’s messengers is second to none. I’m embarrassed that we clap and celebrate a 10 million dollar pledge while smugly dismissing the gracious gift of what might have been over 60 million dollars for the Caskey School of Divinity. I’m embarrassed that we have spent so much money on legal fees and unrealized grandiose schemes while our campus facilities are in disrepair. I’m embarrassed that our state Executive Director has had an inordinate amount of influence over our proceedings. LC is the only one of the 43 Baptist colleges (connected to a state Baptist Convention) whose by-laws in effect make the Executive Director’s position a permanent voting board member. The Baptist schools in states like Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Arkansas and the 9 Baptist schools in Texas, among others, have no spot at all for the Executive Director since it might be considered a conflict of interest considering the financial relationship the school has with the state convention. In fact, for over 100 years (until a by-law change in 2008 in meetings preceding my first board meeting in December of 2008) LC also did not allow a permanent voting position for the Executive Director. I’m embarrassed that because I am a board member I have been perceived as someone who doesn’t care, won’t stand for what is right and/or sits idly by while the school suffers. However, in the end I’m most embarrassed that I was going to resign. I was going to quit. I’m sorry the thought ever entered my mind. I’m not a quitter and I want to set an example for my son like my dad set for me. Pray with me that God will be glorified and the work of restoring the school that we love will be everyone’s priority.

I’m aware this is an uphill battle. We have four new members coming on before our next meeting and then will have five new ones who’ll be voted in during the November meeting of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Please pray that God will guide the selection of those who will serve the school and please continue to pray for the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College… not that we will be unified… but that we will act responsibly regarding the school we hold in trust.

In His Grip,

Jay AdkinsA postscript from Jay for SBC Voices

I did not enter this process without considering the cost. I knew very well that some would not approve of my statement and would most likely reject the idea that a trustee should even make such a statement. I am also aware that those who do not have all the information surrounding a certain happening will also have deficient responses. Thus, although it would be appropriate for me to say nothing and allow insufficient information to shape the responses of those who might not agree with me (and for that matter even those who agree with me) I believe it expedient to point out what I have not done. I have disclosed no confidential material, no executive session items and I have not presented the wording, originators nor the totals of any motion or motions made. Nor, as I’m sure has been presumed, was it I that leaked the information sent to the local paper in Alexandria (although I can’t say that I didn’t want to). The purpose of my statement was simple. First, I wanted to announce that I was going to stay the course when I had intended to give up. Second, I was frustrated by the perception that I was a part of a board that did not and/or would not hear the concerns of others who also appears to simply rubber stamp the administrations agenda. Finally, after much prayer and consideration (and because were I to resign I had intended to say far more on the subject) I believed that this was a necessary action regarding my fiduciary responsibility as one who continues to hold in trust Louisiana College.

The outpouring of support from alumni (and others) has been astonishing… even overwhelming. I had no intention of seeing my statement on a nationally perused blog. The only issue I’d take with umbrage is regarding the assertion that I have “popped off.” Might I point out to those reading this blog… I don’t even have a blog. I choose not to spend my time bloviating over the minutia of Baptist life and theological nit-picking. I rarely even read blogs (including my dad’s… sorry pop). I do not appreciate the innate culture of mud-wrestling so many blogs seem to perpetuate. I prefer to spend my time working in theology and apologetics. However, I would like to make this point. When one exhausts all (and I mean all) possible appropriate actions, including but not limited to utilizing parliamentary procedure and allowing certain important processes to run their course and nothing changes, we each—all of us—have the responsibility to say something. In this case I have concluded there is no other way to bring to light the concerns I have carefully expressed in my statement. As a trustee I have every right to express my concern to our board and as a Louisiana Baptist I have every right to express my concern to the convention at large. To be able to accurately and articulately answer some of the questions being raised on this webpage I would have to break confidences which I do not believe to be appropriate at this time. Suffice it to say were I to choose to “pop off” the wake would be devastating. So, ramble on my friends. My wording was intentional, measured, prayerful and even self-deprecating. I would that all who are concerned, whether elected or rejected, speak up when they see areas that do not jive with what is right and good. As an elected trustee… it is my duty. Blessings, and thanks to those who’ve offered words of encouragement.

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Purpose

Mark Twain is reported to have said, "Never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel." I have come to learn the gravity of Mr. Clemens' words. This site is intended to do what all blog sites do... that is to be an outlet to express my opinion. In that regard I intend to use this site to present information as well as express my thoughts on topics, including but not limited to theology, philosophy, the sciences, the Christian life, discipleship, pastoral concerns, family issues, associational and convention related issues, devotional thoughts and, from time to time, occasional commentary on New Orleans Saints football. I encourage you to join in the discussion. Let's have some fun.